The Rose & The Dagger {Release Blitz!}

I am so excited that THE ROSE & THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

Becky Wade Facebook Party!!

 

The Girl on the Train {Sneak Peek}

Welcome to Sneak Peek Saturday!

Current book:
The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins

Least Favorite Covers of 2015

Sometimes....they just don't work. Covers don't always draw you in. Or, too frequently, they depict something that doesn't fit with the story. In no particular order, these are the covers from books I read in 2015 that could use a redo:

How (Not) To Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts

I actually enjoyed this read, but not this cover. The figures are so stiff...and odd.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt

There is far too much writing on this cover. I would at least remove the lengthy quote at the top. Add in the photoshopped bouquet and this is just not working. 

Valley of Decision by Lynne Gentry

That's some nice, long, photoshopped hair. I just think this one could have better depicted the story.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
I suppose this was the best scene they could pick without giving away spoilers, but it is too washed out and BLAH. Maybe something graphic, bright colors on a black cover?


Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart
I assume they were going for a 'Tuesdays with Morrie' kind of vibe. The shadow is supposed to add a bit of mystery...but no. I wouldn't pick this up based on cover alone.


Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
This is the cover of the version I read. Thank goodness they have since updated it!


A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron
This one is more of a letdown really. The fancy hairdo and flowers don't match with the concentration camp vibe (although pretty). But the obviously fake and last second bird? No thanks.


Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Yup. Just generally not impressed. The mirror is on fire?? The font? It just doesn't match the other covers in the series which irks me.

This list of covers may not have been very eye catching, but THIS LIST sure is! I'm still drooling over some of these choices!

What did you think about the covers on this list? Which books would you add from 2015??

Brazen {Review}

Brazen by Leeana Tankersley

Visit the Author's Website HERE

Publisher: Revell

Publishing Date: April 5, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

There are so many moments in life when we choose to silence our intuition, abandon our own voice, and play small because we wonder, deep down: "Do I know who I really am? Is who I really am enough?" It's courageous work to learn to live from our essential identity--loved, worthy, whole. But what if God is calling us to shamelessly recover the woman he created us to be? What if God is urging us to be--for the first time in our lives--brazen? 
The word "brazen" means "without shame." Leeana Tankersley wants women to be just that--to unapologetically move from shame- and fear-based living toward lives that are based on love and belonging. With moving personal stories and spot-on observations of the longings we all experience--to know we are loved, to feel comfortable in our own skin, to be heard--Tankersley calls women to honor that voice deep down inside of them rather than bowing to outside influences that push them to become someone they're not. Gritty and overflowing with grace, Brazen will set women free to be truly themselves in a world bent on molding them in its image.

Adorkable {Book Blitz}

Like Never Before {Sneak Peek}

Welcome to Sneak Peek Saturday!

Current book:
Like Never Before 
by Melissa Tagg

New on the Shelves {March 2016}

Most of what I added to my shelves in the month of March was from the library. Gotta love that place. Let me share those first......

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

This one was pretty adorable. Snarky, sarcastic, and ultra creative. Patrick Ness gives us the story of the 'normal' characters that live in the background

Goodreads

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

A mature MG sci fi read. Short and fast, it's worth finding a copy from the library. 

I posted my review last Thursday

Goodreads

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

EVERYBODY. This was my first EVER book club book read. And it wasn't fantastic. This style of writing, literary, dry, aloof, is just not my thing. Everyone else in the group thought much of the same about the story as well.

Goodreads

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Gah, this cover #gorgeous. I actually haven't gotten to this one yet. Book one of the trilogy was off the charts. I listened to book two which may have affected my rating. I am nervous, albeit excited, to start this one soon!

Goodreads

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Okay, admit it friends: I got some awesome books from the library this month. This collection of short stories gives each character an 'origin' story of sorts. So nothing is exactly fresh and new, except for the very last story which is #romancegoals

Goodreads

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

This was Uppercase's March book choice. The cover is pretty swoony IRL and the synopsis sounds super awesome. I can't wait to dive in! ...though I am not sure when that will be...

Goodreads

The Gift of Friendship by Dawn Camp

I have actually received a copy of this book from the publisher already...so not sure why I got this one again. Perhaps it was a mistake? Perhaps it was part of the launch team deal? Either way, I gave this copy away to a BFF already :)

Goodreads

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

A Jane Eyre retelling? Don't mind if I do! Thanks Netgalley for the ecopy!

Goodreads

*********************************

And there you have it! I technically only added like...one physical read to my shelves? But already for April I have added quite a bunch. Oops. BUT! You'll have to stay tuned :D

See anything you'd like to add to your shelves??

Burning Midnight {Review}

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publishing Date: February 2, 2016

Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old David Sullivan’s life is about to change—all because of one tiny, priceless item found in the murky bottom of a Brooklyn water tower.

Sully is a sphere dealer at a flea market. It doesn’t pay much—Alex Holliday’s stores have muscled out most of the independent sellers—but it helps him and his mom make rent.

No one knows where the brilliant-colored spheres came from. One day they were just there, hidden all over the earth like huge gemstones. Burn a pair and they make you a little better: an inch taller, skilled at math, better-looking. The rarer the sphere, the more expensive—and the greater the improvement.

When Sully meets Hunter, a girl with a natural talent for finding spheres, the two start searching together. One day they find a Gold—a color no one has ever seen. And when Alex Holliday learns what they have, he will go to any lengths, will use all of his wealth and power, to take it from them.

There’s no question the Gold is worth millions, but what does it actually do? None of them is aware of it yet, but the fate of the world rests on this little golden orb. Because all the world fights over the spheres, but no one knows where they come from, what their powers are, or why they’re here. 

Books I Want to Reread in 2016

Yes, it is April. And yes I am just finally getting around to listing the books I want to reread in 2016....but better late than never, amirite? I need to read at least one of these before May ends!
*links lead to my reviews!

Breathing Room by Leeana Tankersley

I have her newest, "Brazen", that I should be starting this week. I remember her writing as 'honest and truth revealing'. Gorgeous cover as well ;)

The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner

This one needs a re-read from me just so I can take each lesson and truly let it seep in. Maybe I will blog my way through this as a way to stay accountable??

Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

I don't think I ever posted about this one, but it is beautiful. Anything these two write is soul refreshing. With a tough young baby and a rambunctious three year old, I could use some hope and fresh air.

50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha

THIS. Every single lady in this book is so inspiring. I could use inspiring right about now. This one was also supposed to be on my ReRead 2015 list....but we can see how well that went...

Chasing God by Angie Smith

After reading this one I wanted to push it on every single person I knew. Prayer, forgiveness, running around in circles searching desperately for God. Angie gets it, she has been there. This one made my 'Lifechanger' shelf and it's time I revisit why. 

Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin

When I first read the words beneath this beautiful cover, they didn't strike me as earth shattering. But at the time, I was much better at my personal Bible study time. Now life has happened and I need to dive in again. I think reading Wilkin's words will give me the spark I need to dive headfirst back into the Word. 

And of course...because it is obvious:

  

If you could reread anything this year, what would it be??

Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath {Book Blast}

March 2016 Wrap Up

 

I honestly don't remember much of March. I am pretty sure it was the longest month in the history of ever. Baby Boy has been a giant handful, dealing with a possible dairy intolerance with a dash of tomato sensitivity. All I remember is a haze of screaming and bottle making. 

My BFF had her baby girl! It is so awesome that we had children so close together. We got to take bestie pregnancy pics and now tiny infant pics...though both are babies are growing FAST. I still want to plan the future, and inevitable, wedding but I SUPPOSE I could wait til they both turn six months.... :D

Easter was fun. Baby Girl just LOVES egg hunts so she had such a blast with it all. We took her to the city egg hunt again this year. Last year was.....pretty much a disaster. She just stood there and cried. This year wasn't much better, no tears, but she wouldn't pick up any of the candy that was just laying there. Don't think we'll attempt it again next year to say the least.